haberstump



1, 1955 A. H. HABERSTUMP 2,701,008

BACK SPRING CONSTRUCTION.

Filed June 23, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1, 1955 A. H. HABERSTUMP 2,701,008

BACK SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 23, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent BACK SPRING CONSTRUCTION Alfred Henry Haberstump, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to No-Sag Spring Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 23, 1947, Serial No. 756,541

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-179) This invention relates to spring structures and particularly to a spring assembly having a top frame spanned by flat spring strips and supported on a base frame by spring elements.

The present invention pertains to a cushion frame assembly made entirely of wire having a base frame and a top frame interconnected by spring elements which are also made of wire. The interconnecting spring elements are in the form of jack springs which are mounted inwardly of the edge of the base frame and extended upwardly and outwardly into engagement with the edge of the top frame. The base frame embodies a rectangular border element having wires supported by the side edges to which the jack springs are secured. A similar border wire is provided for the top frame which is secured to the projecting ends of the jack spring. Thereafter, zigzag spring strips made of wire bent back and forth are stretched across the top border wire in parallel relation to the side portions thereof. Not only is a resilient top provided by the zigzag springs, but the entire top frame is sprung from the base frame by the jack springs. The jack springs also function to prevent the border wire portions supporting the springs from being drawn out of parallel relation to each other and the top frame from moving laterally relative to the bottom frame.

In another form of the invention the top border wire may be anchored directly to the bottom frame along one edge and have the other edge supported above the opposite edge of the base frame by the jack springs. Clips are provided for attaching the springs to the top border frame. The springs are hooked onto the clip and the clip is hooked over the border wire, and after all of the springs are assembled in this manner, the ends of the clips are then closed by a suitable clinching tool.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a resilient cushion frame which is made entirely of wire; to provide a top and bottom frame interconnected by jack springs so disposed as to brace the top frame and prevent the edges from being drawn inwardly toward each other; to provide a bottom frame having a wire edge the sides of which are interconnected by wires to which jack springs are secured to resiliently support a top border wire and brace the wire against inward and lateral movement; to provide clips for attaching the ends of spring strips across a border frame which are thereafter clinched over the wire and spring ends; and, in general, to provide a cushion assembly of wire which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a broken plan view of a spring assembly for a back cushion embodying features of this invention; 2 is an end view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3 is a view of a seat having a back and seat cushion thereon which were constructed from the frame illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a clip employed for securing the springs to the top frame illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view of a spring assembly, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing another form thereof;

2,701,008 Patented Feb. 1, 1955 Fig. 6 is an end View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, taken on the line 7-7 thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a cushion spring is illustrated, embodying a base element 10 and a top element 11. The base element is made of a border wire 12 and is of substantially rectangular shape having a hook 13 formed at each top corner. It is to be understood that the spring assembly herein illustrated is utilized for a back cushion, such as that employed in an automobile, and that a similar structure is employed with a slight modification for the spring assembly of the seat cushion.

The side members 14 of the base border frame are interconnected by wires 15 which are welded or otherwise secured thereto. Brace wires 16 interconnect the top and bottom portions 17 and 18 of the: border wire 12 and are welded thereto and to the transverse wires 15. Hairpinlike elements 19 also interconnect the border wire portions 17 and 18 of the base frame when welded thereto and to the transverse wires 15.

The looped ends 21 of the elements 19 extend a substantial distance below the wire portion 18 and are secured to the seat back support of a vehicle. A tacking strip 22 extends along the border wire portion 17 of the base element 10 between the two hooks 13 disposed at the corners. Brackets 23 secure the tacking strip 22 to the wires 16 and one of the wires of the element 19, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l.

The top element 11 embodies a border wire 24 shaped rectangularly with the top portion 25 and the bottom portion 26 slightly arched to provide contour for the top and bottom of the resulting back cushion. The side portions 27 of the border wire are offset at 28 to provide clearance for the wheel housing adjacent to the rear seat which extends inwardly of the inner side walls of the body. The border element 24 is supported above the base element 10 by jack springs 29 each of which has a coiled portion 31 disposed around a transverse wire 15 and has the free ends 32 looped over notched portions 33 of the border wire portions 17 or 18. The upwardly and outwardly extending V-shaped portions 34 of the jack springs are connected to the border Wire portions 17 and 18 by suitable clinch rings 35. The portions 34 prevent the lateral shifting of the top frame 11 relative to the base frame 10, and at the same time brace the border wire portions 25 and 26 in a manner to prevent them from being drawn inwardly toward each other when sprung.

Clips 36, each having a web portion 37 and two reversely bent end portions 38, secure spring strips 39 across the top border portions 25 and 26. An end 41 of a strip 39 is secured in one of the reversely bent ends 38 and the other end 38 is secured over the border wire portion 25 or 26. The opposite end of the spring strip 39 is then assembled in the same manner to the other border wire portion by a clip 36. After all of the spring strips 39 are supported across the top border frame by the clips, the inner ends of the reversely bent portions 38 thereof are clinched over the wire engaged thereby. This is done by a suitable tool which is moved from one clip to the other so that all of the clips are clinched in a single handling of the clinching device.

The resulting cushion spring is then padded and covered by a suitable trim material which is secured at the top to the tacking strip 22 and by hog rings to the bottom border wire 12. The tacking strip 22 and the hooks 13 are disposed over a projecting element on the back supporting frame of the vehicle, after which the looped ends 21 of the elements 19 are screwed, bolted or otherwise secured thereto.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that straps 56, made of webbing, rope or the like, are secured between the border wire portions 17 and 18 of the base frame and the border wire portions 25 and 26 of the top frame to limit the separation of the top frame 11 from the bottom frame 10 while permitting free movement of the top frame toward the bottom frame.

In Fig. 3 a back and seat cushion are illustrated in finished condition before being placed in a vehicle after the frame assembly above described has been padded and trimmed.

Referring to Figs. to 7, a further form of the invention is illustrated, that wherein a base frame 45 is made of wire having a pair of wires 46 interconnecting the side portions 47 thereof inwardly from the longitudinally extending portions 48 and 49. U-shaped spring elements 51 have reversely bent hooklike ends 52 which extend under and over the pair of wires 46 and are clinched over one of the wires to securely anchor the elements in position. Arms 53 extend outwardly and upwardly from the hooklike ends 52, said arms being joined by a web 50. A border wire 54 has side portions 57 and a top portion 58 to the latter of which the webs 50 of the elements 51 are secured by bands 55. Strap 56 limit the separation of the top border wire 54 from the base frame 45 while permitting the top frame to move toward the base frame. The ends of the side portion 57 are anchored to the base frame 45 by suitable clinch rings 59. The portion 58 of the top frame is sprung over the base frame 45 by the spring element 51.

It will be noted further that a portion 61 of the top border wire 54 overhangs the bottom frame, and to provide support therefor the arms of the element 51 are disposed in cross relation to have one of the portions 53 disposed beyond the bottom frame. Spring elements 39 are then secured between the portion 58 of the top border wire 54 and the portion 49 of the base frame.

A clip 62 is illustrated in section in Fig. 7 as being of S-shape, having a channel portion 63 in which the end loop 64 of the spring 39 is received. A reversely disposed channel portion 65 is then hooked over the portion 49 and a like clip 62 is applied to the opposite end of the spring in the same manner with the portion 65 hooked over the opposite element 58. Preferably all of the springs are secured across the elements 49 and 58 and thereafter the extending portions 66 and 67 of the clip 62 are clinched over the adjacent wire portions so as to be securely anchored in position. This is done through manipulation of the clinching tool from one to the other of the clips so that the operation of securing the clips to the wires is performed with a single handling of the tool.

It is to be understood that in any of the constructions herein illustrated, spring strips 39 are interconnected by suitable wire elements 68 having hooked ends which engage adjacent loops of adjacent wires. It will be noted, further, that the strips 39 are secured in position in right and left-hand relation, having one end of the spring pointing in one direction while the end of the adjacent spring is pointed in the opposite direction so as to have the loops disposed in aligned relation. The endmost spring strips 39 are connected to the side portions of the top frame by suitable coil springs 69 having hooked ends which are secured over a loop of the strip and over the wire of the frame.

What is claimed is:

1. In a back spring cushion construction, a base frame made of wire and formed into rectangular shape having at least one pair of parallelly disposed wires interconnecting the side portions thereof, U-shaped spring elements having S-shaped ends hooked about said parallel wires providing a support therefor on the base frame, a forward frame secured to the opposite ends of said spring elements from those having the end hooks providing a resilient support therefor which braces the forward frame against inward deflection when spring strips are stretched thereacross, and spring strips connected to the forward frame and disposed parallel to the side portions thereof.

2. In a back spring construction, a base frame made of Wire and formed into rectangular shape having at least one pair of parallelly disposed wires interconnecting the side portions thereof, U-shaped spring elements having a web portion and extending arms, the ends of the arms being hooked about said parallel wires providing a support for the spring elements on the base frame, a forward frame secured to the forwardly disposed web ends of said U-shaped spring elements providing a resilient support therefor which bracees the forward frame when spring strips are connected thereacross, the spring element disposed adjacent to a side frame portion having its arm portions disposed in crossed relation to brace the forward frame against lateral displacement.

3. In a back cushion construction for a seat, a base frame having spaced top and bottom members joined by side members, a pair of wires joined to said side members between said top and bottom members and substantially parallel thereto, a second frame having a top member located forwardly of the top member of said base frame, said second frame being secured to the bottom portion of the base frame, spring means spanning the top member of said second frame and the bottom member of said base frame, U-shaped springs, each having a web portion secured to the top member of said second frame and two arm portions extending from said web portion, and hook portions on the end of said arm portions extending about said pair of wires.

4. In a back spring construction, a rear frame, a front frame having a border wire, means supporting said front frame on the rear frame, zigzag spring strips spanning the front frame, S-shaped clips, each having a channel portion receiving the endmost loop of a zigzag spring strip and having a loop extending from the end thereof engaging the border wire of the front frame and clinched thereover, said channel having means for clinching the other end of the clip to said endmost loop of the spring strip to have a clip secured to an end of each said spring strip and disposed in continuation of the strips for extending the length thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 527,287 Perren Oct. 9, 1894 1,826,012 McElroy Oct. 6, 1931 2,008,670 Lee July 23, 1935 2,106,644 Menge Jan. 25, 1938 2,158,647 Wolfe May 16, 1939 2,336,975 Asaro Dec. 14, 1943 2,356,417 Mayer Aug. 22, 1944 2,364,499 Wolofski Dec. 5, 1944 2,366,607 Freeman Ian. 2, 1945 2,392,254 Mayer Jan. 1, 1946 2,570,409 Van Hove Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 372,778 Great Britain May 11, 1932 

